Michael White, professor and department head from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, talks about some of the dangers related to intravenous admixture compounding companies and what you can do to protect yourself.
A meningitis outbreak was tied to intravenous drugs made at a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts, and the same thing happened with eye drops that were made in bulk. More than a dozen people got serious eye infections and some ended up with vision loss. Compounding pharmacies make products in bulk. Hospitals and clinics buy the products in bulk because it is cheaper.
White says compounding pharmacies are coming under increased scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration. He says patients getting intravenous drugs or eye drops should ask if the product was made locally or bought in bulk. Products that are made in bulk, shipped and then stored give fungus and bacteria more time to grow. If the product was made in bulk, ask if there are any other alternatives that you can use, White says.
To learn more, visit http://s.uconn.edu/askthepharmacist.